Tamsulosin is an α1a-selective alpha blocker used in the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Tamsulosin was developed by Yamanouchi Pharmaceuticals (now part of Astellas Pharma) and is marketed by various companies under licence, including Boehringer-Ingelheim and CSL. Tamsulosin hydrochloride extended-release capsules are marketed under the trade names Flomax, Flomaxtra and Urimax, though generic non-modified release capsules are still approved and marketed in many countries, such as Canada. The U.S. patent for Flomax is set to expire October 2009.